Renaissance Period Study Notes

Renaissance Period Study Notes

  • The Renaissance period of classical music spans approximately 1400−16001400-1600. It was preceded by the Medieval period and followed by the Baroque period. The Renaissance music era came significantly later than the Renaissance art era, yet it proved to be equally robust.

Most Essential Learning Competencies

  • 1. Describes the musical elements of selected vocal and instrumental music of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music; (MU9MRB -Ib-f-5)
  • 2. Explains the performance practice (setting, composition, role of composers/performers, and audience) during Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods; (MU9MRB -Ia-h-2)

Review Focus

  • Review material titled "FIME!" (as indicated in the transcript)

Key Terms and Concepts from the Randomizer

  • Renaissance wheel (refer to the file named RENAISSANCE WHEEL.html as a learning resource)
  • Concept map activity: Think of word associations related to the word “renaissance” and capture them on your worksheet

Timeline and Context

  • The Renaissance period of music spans 1400−16001400-1600, following the Medieval period and preceding the Baroque period.
  • The Renaissance music era came later than Renaissance art, but both share robust creative output.

Reformation, Printing, and Notation

  • The Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation occurred during the 16th century, liberalizing some forms of art; both church music and secular art music thrived during the Renaissance.
  • The invention of the printing press in 14391439 helped standardize music notation across Europe, though notation would continue to evolve into the Baroque and Classical eras.

Renaissance Musical Forms (Liturgical and Secular)

  • Liturgical/Church forms:
    • motet
    • madrigale spirituale
    • the mass
    • the laude
  • Secular forms:
    • secular motet and motet-chanson
    • secular madrigal
    • villancico
    • frottola
    • rondo
    • ballade
    • lute song
    • canzonetta
  • Note: These forms reflect both sacred and secular musical life of the Renaissance.

Renaissance Period Musical Form

  • The era is characterized by a variety of musical forms, with a strong emphasis on polyphony and vocal textures. (Details from the transcript summarize general tendencies rather than a single form set.)

Characteristics of Renaissance Music

  • Mostly polyphonic
  • Imitation among voices is common
  • Use of word painting in texts and music
  • Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
  • Melodies are easier to perform because they tend to move along a scale with a few large leaps

Vocal Music of the Renaissance

  • Typically polyphonic
  • May be sung a cappella or with orchestral accompaniment
  • Text settings can be syllabic, neumatic, or melismatic

The Mass

  • MASS is a form of sacred musical composition that sets texts of the Eucharistic liturgy into music
  • Five main sections of the Mass:
    1. Kyrie
    2. Gloria
    3. Credo
    4. Sanctus and Benedictus
    5. Agnus Dei
  • Vocal texture: polyphonic, often sung a cappella; through-composed; frequently for 3-6 voices

The Madrigal

  • A secular vocal polyphonic music composition that originated in Italy
  • Text is poetic and set musically to be performed during courtly social gatherings
  • Typically through-composed and expressive of secular themes

Selected Listenings (illustrative pieces)

  • "Gloria" by Josquin des Prez (Josquin de Prez in the transcript)
  • "April is in My Mistress’ Face" by Thomas Morley

Reflection Prompts

  • Which music are you familiar with? Why?
  • Which songs can you relate with? Sacred or secular? Why?

Composers of the Renaissance Period

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

  • Widely regarded as the greatest master of Roman Catholic Church music
  • Committed to sacred music with a keen interest in the desires of church leaders
  • Palestrina’s Pope Marcellus Mass is held up as the perfect example of counter-reformation style
  • Kyrie is part of the first two sections of the Pope Marcellus Mass
  • Years: 1525−15941525-1594

Thomas Morley (1557-1602)

  • Son of a brewer born in Norwich, England
  • Became master of chorister and was the most famous composer of secular music in his time
  • His madrigals are light and easy to sing with some aspects of Italian style
  • "Fire, Fire My Heart" is his most famous composition
  • Years: 1557−16021557-1602

Assignment

  • What is/are the role of the composers in their composition? List down at least 5.
  • (Note: The transcript prompts for this discussion; think about roles such as creator of musical ideas, arranger, interpreter, performer, patron liaison, and collaborator with choirs or instrumentalists.)